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Spirit of Competition award given to Sam Posey by Simeone Museum

Driver, broadcaster and author Sam Posey will receive the Spirit of Competition Award from the Simeone Automotive Museum at a gala dinner on Dec. 5.

The Simeone Automotive Museum is located in south Philadelphia and bills itself as having one of the world's “greatest collections of racing sports cars.” There are about 60 historic cars there, from rally cars to Bonneville Salt Flat racers.

The Spirit of Competition award is given each year to a person who inspires, innovates and succeeds in the world of motorsports, or, exemplifies the spirit of competition, according to the museum. Posey will join past award winners Mario Andretti, Janet Guthrie, John Fitch and Craig Breedlove.

Photo by Harry Hurst

Posey drove almost every type of race car in his career. He started in 1968 as a Can Am and Trans Am driver, driving a Sunoco Camaro for Roger Penske and teaming with Mark Donohue. Posey made a decent run with finishes of third, sixth and second. Unfortunately he was behind Donohue, who dominated the 1968 season. In 1969 he won the Lime Rock Trans-Am in a factory-backed Ford Mustang. After that he drove a Dodge Challenger against greats like Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney and Jim Hall in what some consider the greatest season of racing in American history.

Posey competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 10 times during his career, with a best finish of third in 1971 driving a Ferrari 512M. In total he has five top-10 finishes. Posey won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1975.

He competed in two Formula One events and in the USAC Championship Car series, including the 1972 Indy 500.

Photo by Harry Hurst

After Posey hung up his driving gloves, he sat down in an ABC Sports broadcaster chair, covering IndyCar racing until 1995. Posey also did a little NASCAR commentating, as well as the Olympics and the Tour de France.

As busy as he was, Posey also had time to write two books, Playing With Trains and The Mudge Pond Express, and design the Paddock Building at Lime Rock Park. He was very much a jack of all trades.

The gala dinner is open to the public. Tickets cost $150 for individuals and $275 for couples. They can be purchased from the Simeone Museum website at www.simeonemuseum.org or by calling (215) 365-7233.